53 reviews
Extraordinary chemistry between Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur is the best feature about this movie.
The situations are really interesting with a bit of black humor and some action going on. Tupac Shakur, against all criticism, delivers a solid, believable, likable performance. Tim Roth is amazing and delivers a badass performance as the "cool" junkie with a bad attitude.
I really dig how they care for each other and how they help each other whenever there's trouble. The drug sub-plot is also interesting and very good carried on.
Years ago I mentioned on another review that this was the best on-screen duo of 1997. I still think the same.
The situations are really interesting with a bit of black humor and some action going on. Tupac Shakur, against all criticism, delivers a solid, believable, likable performance. Tim Roth is amazing and delivers a badass performance as the "cool" junkie with a bad attitude.
I really dig how they care for each other and how they help each other whenever there's trouble. The drug sub-plot is also interesting and very good carried on.
Years ago I mentioned on another review that this was the best on-screen duo of 1997. I still think the same.
- insomniac_rod
- Dec 16, 2006
- Permalink
Seeing how great 2Pac was here makes his shockingly young death even sadder.... he'd be one of the top actors on the globe if he was still with us today.
- mattchopping-39301
- Mar 9, 2022
- Permalink
From the very first to the very last scenes of this film, I sat immobile, bug-eyed, and completely agog at the sight of my own painfully hopeless experience as a strung-out junk zombie. And I wonder: why did they never screen this film for us in rehab? Not only is "Gridlock'd" an exciting, intelligent, and visually riveting film, it is also dead on the money in its depiction of the excruciating emotional, spiritual, and material bankruptcy of a junkie's living death. Stretch and Spoon are well fleshed-out characters with which I can identify in almost every aspect, and are beautifully portrayed by Shakur and Roth. The true genius of this story is that, despite its grim and uncomfortably blunt treatment of its subject matter, it manages to convey a message of hope that no matter how deeply entrenched in addiction one may be, one CAN break the shackles of substance abuse and realize that one's life is worth saving.
- jonnythemoose
- Aug 20, 2005
- Permalink
The mixing in of the past into the present makes me think of Pulp Fiction. Of course Tim Roth, excellent again, might have pushed my thoughts that way unconsciously.
There is a scene involving a pocketknife - to avoid spoiling your fun I won't say more - at the very end of the film which had me rolling around laughing with tears in my eyes.
There is a scene involving a pocketknife - to avoid spoiling your fun I won't say more - at the very end of the film which had me rolling around laughing with tears in my eyes.
I just saw this film an hour ago and i have to say this is a better drug-related film than requiem for a dream. The film features Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur as two addicts who try to kick the habit after their friend (Thandie Newton) falls into a drug induced coma. After being given the run-around by various clinics and offices, they decide to fall back on some drugs before they get into rehab but are chased through the city by a drug dealer and police officers. Tupac and Roth are a great on-screen duo and the film does a good job of showing the grittier side of drugs and the difficulty of quitting. I highly recommend this film as one of Tupac's best and Roth's most obscure roles. Altogether a great movie.
Rhythm is the key of this superb movie, the elapse is basically an endless chase that keeps you awake all through the movie. Besides the whole atmosphere is very cool the decadence of the junkie world has a glamour of its own, mostly when it's magnificent represented by Tim Roth (the acid James Cagney) and Tupac Shakur who really shows us his acting skills here. You gonna love him. The movie is basically perfect in the sense there's nothing to criticize: On every single aspect the movie is magnificent.
Vondie Curtis-Hall simply couldn't make a better debut as a director.
Vondie Curtis-Hall simply couldn't make a better debut as a director.
It's a film that anyone who has had to deal with jobsworth bureaucrats will find funny but true to life. It does have a serious subplot as to why so many do so little, other than pass the process back and forth. Some of the best moments are actually less to do with the headline stars, but the bored / tired / fed up minions obeying orders.
Great movie! One of the best movies i've ever seen! This film shows how hard and difficult is to quit drugs and find a place for treatment when you're a poor person! Great acting, great plot and very well direct. This is NOT another movie about drugs and drug addicted only, its about burocracy of the healthcare system, how bad it is unless you have money and how it affects this people.
Watch this movie if you can, its really good.
Watch this movie if you can, its really good.
- ComancheroEatsHisShoe
- Feb 7, 2003
- Permalink
Gridlock'd falls between good and okay, but veering more towards good. It's a fun time movie, and one I like a lot, with scenes that all too depressingly real about two no hopers trying to kick theur habit, with kicking in the new year, after their roomy Cookie (Thandie Newton) o'ds where there's a possibility that she may not come back. This impels Shakur to wisen up, where he and mate Spoon (Roth, again just what we expect from this impressive actor) are given the runaround while trying to get clean, waiting in line, going to office to office, dealing with rude assistants, while getting pretty hacked off themselves. Roth letting his lips flap with many an F word, was funny. Shakur who was one of those rapper/actor revelations, especially after seeing him in Bullet, and Roth made an interesting buddy team, where there was really great chemistry between the actors. Some other performances are noteworthy in bit parts. Their day gets worth when two thugs, who are ripped off by Shakur and company return, guns blazing, not happy with their non purchase of a stereo radio, veiled in a cardboard box (should of checked) where inside are bricks. There are a few side splitting and classically memorable moments, that were implanted my head, none more that stabbing scene. There's a real smartness to the film that has a real laid back feel, not really reliant on plot, just driven by the frightening and worrying catalyst at the start, where what follows is an all true realism of situations and hapless circumstances with our two character mains trying to achieve their goal, and continuing to come up against a brick wall. The movie has those admiring qualities going for it, only I just feel that wasn't enough to maintain good quality status. Stay for the song Traffic Jam, that comes after a sudden ending. I was enjoying the movie that much, as well as watching Newton slip back into her knickers and clothes.
- videorama-759-859391
- Oct 12, 2014
- Permalink
This movie was just a lot of fun, no matter how you try and break it down. I saw it because of Tim Roth, and I'm glad I did; Tupac Shakur was just as enjoyable to watch, along with smaller roles from the now much-more-famous Thandie Newton and Lucy Liu.
In retrospect, the character development isn't anything incredibly deep, but it still has incredibly funny and dramatic moments despite this. It plays like a stageplay on a skateboard, bouncing from place to place, the journey more important than the destination.
Maybe that sounds a little silly, but it's still a lot of fun to watch and a lot of fun to go on a ride with these characters. Definitely a great kick, as we patiently wait for another film from mostly-actor Vondie-Curtis Hall.
In retrospect, the character development isn't anything incredibly deep, but it still has incredibly funny and dramatic moments despite this. It plays like a stageplay on a skateboard, bouncing from place to place, the journey more important than the destination.
Maybe that sounds a little silly, but it's still a lot of fun to watch and a lot of fun to go on a ride with these characters. Definitely a great kick, as we patiently wait for another film from mostly-actor Vondie-Curtis Hall.
Gridlock'd (1997) is a movie that I recently watched for the first time in a long time on Tubi. The storyline follows a pair of junkie friends without a job, money or drugs...they want to go right but the system denies them at every corner. If the system won't help them, who will?
This movie is written and directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall (Waist Deep) and stars Tim Roth (Four Rooms), Tupac Shakur (Poetic Justice), Thandiwe Newton (Westworld), Charles Fleischer (Zodiac), Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) and Lucy Liu (Kill Bill).
This movie had a tremendous storyline and an impressive cast that delivers remarkable performances. Tim Roth is outstanding and Tupac delivers a solid supporting role. Even the side characters are solid as I enjoyed Newton, Liu and Fleischer. Some aspects of the plot felt unrealistic, but the genuine circumstances and challenges were authentic. The ending song during the credit was far and away the best part of the movie. If we got to see those characters during that time in their lives, this may have been a masterpiece.
Overall, this isn't the best drug related movie but it is entertaining and worth a viewing. I would score this a 6/10 and strongly recommend it.
This movie is written and directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall (Waist Deep) and stars Tim Roth (Four Rooms), Tupac Shakur (Poetic Justice), Thandiwe Newton (Westworld), Charles Fleischer (Zodiac), Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) and Lucy Liu (Kill Bill).
This movie had a tremendous storyline and an impressive cast that delivers remarkable performances. Tim Roth is outstanding and Tupac delivers a solid supporting role. Even the side characters are solid as I enjoyed Newton, Liu and Fleischer. Some aspects of the plot felt unrealistic, but the genuine circumstances and challenges were authentic. The ending song during the credit was far and away the best part of the movie. If we got to see those characters during that time in their lives, this may have been a masterpiece.
Overall, this isn't the best drug related movie but it is entertaining and worth a viewing. I would score this a 6/10 and strongly recommend it.
- kevin_robbins
- Aug 11, 2023
- Permalink
- andreas-19
- Oct 30, 1998
- Permalink
- bob the moo
- Dec 6, 2001
- Permalink
Tim Roth and Tupac are a couple of crackheads who party so hard on New Year's Eve they end up having to drag their roommate Thandie Newton to ER in a desperate bid to save her life.
At which point they decide to get into rehab and get clean.
Easier said than done.
Their dealer gets murdered. That guy's dealer is chasing them. Every agency they try to access has an impossible mountain of rules to follow.
It's pretty entertaining, actually. It helps that Tim Roth is one of the great actors of his generation, while Tupac almost certainly would have been, had he not been murdered on the Vegas strip. Their chemistry is superb and you just gotta cheer for them to prevail.
At which point they decide to get into rehab and get clean.
Easier said than done.
Their dealer gets murdered. That guy's dealer is chasing them. Every agency they try to access has an impossible mountain of rules to follow.
It's pretty entertaining, actually. It helps that Tim Roth is one of the great actors of his generation, while Tupac almost certainly would have been, had he not been murdered on the Vegas strip. Their chemistry is superb and you just gotta cheer for them to prevail.
- ArtVandelayImporterExporter
- Aug 18, 2023
- Permalink
- tallpaulmwp
- Dec 10, 2008
- Permalink
There's a sarcastic phrase people use here in the UK that goes, "How very different from the home life of our own dear Queen!" It definitely applies to this movie! Tupac Shakur and Tim Roth play two small-time drug-addled crooks who have a bad experience, so they decide to get clean. They're completely sincere and determined to do it, but the film is about how difficult it is, in practical terms, to get off drugs in today's USA. Despite all the political hype and the government programmes and the well-meaning organisations, when a guy actually walks in off the street and says 'Get Me Off Drugs', he faces a bewildering maze of stifling bureaucracy and indifferent public officials which seems designed to set him straight back on the cycle of despair.
So the film is sometimes frustrating to watch. It's grim in parts too. But it's also very funny. Tim Roth is as good as ever, but Shakur is a revelation. His earlier films were not so good, but here (his final movie before being murdered) he seemed to hit a groove. The chemistry between the two leads is great. The film is really about friendship as much as anything else.
Gridlocked is different to any film you've ever seen. At 91 minutes it doesn't out-stay its welcome, and the pacy direction keeps it moving along nicely. It's not a classic but it is well worth seeing.
So the film is sometimes frustrating to watch. It's grim in parts too. But it's also very funny. Tim Roth is as good as ever, but Shakur is a revelation. His earlier films were not so good, but here (his final movie before being murdered) he seemed to hit a groove. The chemistry between the two leads is great. The film is really about friendship as much as anything else.
Gridlocked is different to any film you've ever seen. At 91 minutes it doesn't out-stay its welcome, and the pacy direction keeps it moving along nicely. It's not a classic but it is well worth seeing.
There are only a few films that I would give ten stars and this is one of them. I might be slightly bias due to the fact that I am a fan of 2pac but I truly believe that this is one of the best films that I have seen. It follows the story of two friends Spoon (2pac) and Stretch (Tim Roth) as they attempt to get into a rehab centre so that they can kick their drug addiction. The film which also features Thandie Newton really makes you feel like you are going on the journey with these characters as both 2pac and Tim Roth give very convincing performances in this brilliant film that in my opinion is underrated. I would recommend this film to most people but I think 2pac's fans will appreciate it most of all.
- thomasbarnett1
- Jan 4, 2012
- Permalink
This movie was just OK but for Tupac fans its a must watch. I'm one of the biggest Pac fans and I still walked out of this movie 20 minutes before it let out. I think I was like 13 when it came out. I just remember It have so much cursing in it, but overall it showed that Tupac had a promise career with in film..
- directordbaines
- Jul 8, 2021
- Permalink
- Woodyanders
- Mar 5, 2007
- Permalink
Gridlock'd is a 1997 dark comedy that follows two friends trying to kick their drug habit after a friends overdose. But when they try to enroll in rehab they find out that getting clean is harder than they thought.
This is a great movie that I feel like is not high on the radar when talking about good films from the 1990's. It takes an interesting look at the difficulties of trying to get off drugs while keeping the tone of the movie a little lighthearted and fun. The two main characters portrayed by Tupac Shakur and Tim Roth are instantly likable and capture your intrigue and interest from the very first scene. Their performance in the film is sincere and believable, making it feel like they have been best friends forever. The story is well written and entertaining, the acting is fantastic, and it's the kind of movie that never gets old no matter how many times you've watched it.
If you have never seen Gridlock'd before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
This is a great movie that I feel like is not high on the radar when talking about good films from the 1990's. It takes an interesting look at the difficulties of trying to get off drugs while keeping the tone of the movie a little lighthearted and fun. The two main characters portrayed by Tupac Shakur and Tim Roth are instantly likable and capture your intrigue and interest from the very first scene. Their performance in the film is sincere and believable, making it feel like they have been best friends forever. The story is well written and entertaining, the acting is fantastic, and it's the kind of movie that never gets old no matter how many times you've watched it.
If you have never seen Gridlock'd before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
- JakeRfilmfreak
- Mar 7, 2024
- Permalink
A great dark comedy. The reality of dealing with social services when your on the brink and even me being from Dublin, Ireland, this film really portrayed similarities and draws you in as if it were two Dublin junkies and not two Americans. A fast paced classic with twists turns and never ending bad luck, all while we are treated to great anecdotes. Tim Roth's acting is brilliant as usual and Tupac Shakur surprisingly puts out a top notch performance. If one has to be picky we are put through the odd annoying flashback and sometimes they seem a bit too fluid for two junkies. As a dark comedy should be, the funny moments are hilarious and this is tied in perfectly with the dark reality. You will watch this never ending adventure to get clean again and again.
I wasn't expecting too much from this offbeat comedy, especially as it takes a little while to get going, but was surprised at how good it was. This is thanks largely to the on-screen chemistry between Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur as a couple of drug addicts who decide to kick their habit when flatmate Thandie Newton nearly dies from an accidental overdose.
From such thin premises are great films sometimes crafted, the thinness of the plot meaning that the writers inevitably need to rely on characterisation to flesh things out. If they get it right they can create a classic, if they fail we can all end up watching an interminable mess. Here, Vondie Curtis-Hall does succeed in creating a couple of improbably likable anti-heroes in the form of Stretch (Roth) and Spoon (Shakur), while falling down a little in the realism of some of their decisions. It's nice, though, to see a film about characters like these which isn't downbeat and depressing. Despite their situation they each have an innate optimism and drive that is endearing even if it doesn't quite ring true.
From such thin premises are great films sometimes crafted, the thinness of the plot meaning that the writers inevitably need to rely on characterisation to flesh things out. If they get it right they can create a classic, if they fail we can all end up watching an interminable mess. Here, Vondie Curtis-Hall does succeed in creating a couple of improbably likable anti-heroes in the form of Stretch (Roth) and Spoon (Shakur), while falling down a little in the realism of some of their decisions. It's nice, though, to see a film about characters like these which isn't downbeat and depressing. Despite their situation they each have an innate optimism and drive that is endearing even if it doesn't quite ring true.
- JoeytheBrit
- Jun 17, 2009
- Permalink
The trailer looked like fun, but it's been a while since I have seen such a boring flick! The current IMDb rating of 7 must be because of all the Tupac fanboys.
I really couldn't stand all the pretentious pseudo intellectual crap talking. And all the cigarette smoking, every single scene - looks so cool and rebellious... if you are 14 perhaps.
Special marks to the black girl with the British accent for playing such an annoying, vapid, super pretentious bimbo. I'm sure in real life she is nothing like that, and she was really cast for her unique acting abilities.
Tupac comes across as a pretentious wannabe poet rather than a street smart rapper. Watching him pretending to play double bass in a jazz band with his cracker buddy on keys, and the bimbo uttering faux deep bullshit in the mic... embarrassing!
If I was a Tupac fanboy, I really wouldn't like to see this movie!
I really couldn't stand all the pretentious pseudo intellectual crap talking. And all the cigarette smoking, every single scene - looks so cool and rebellious... if you are 14 perhaps.
Special marks to the black girl with the British accent for playing such an annoying, vapid, super pretentious bimbo. I'm sure in real life she is nothing like that, and she was really cast for her unique acting abilities.
Tupac comes across as a pretentious wannabe poet rather than a street smart rapper. Watching him pretending to play double bass in a jazz band with his cracker buddy on keys, and the bimbo uttering faux deep bullshit in the mic... embarrassing!
If I was a Tupac fanboy, I really wouldn't like to see this movie!